No more cost of living payments will now be made until Tuesday, May 2, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed.
Announcing the news on Facebook and Twitter on Thursday afternoon (April 27), DWP said that it will issue another update when the next set of payments has been made, telling people "don't worry" if they have not yet received the money. 1.6 million households received their £301 cash boost on Thursday, with 4.8 million having already received the sum this month.
DWP began sending the payments out two days ago on Tuesday, April 25, but the final deadline for those eligible to receive them is not until Wednesday, May 17. However, the announcement that payments are being temporarily paused between Friday and Monday still caused frustration among some still waiting for the cash, which will be a lifeline for many struggling households amid the cost of living crisis.
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Most people on DWP benefits will receive their payment between now and May 17, but those on tax credits who are on no other low income benefits will get their £301 between May 2 and May 9 in most cases, DWP said. This will be followed by £300 paid this autumn, and £299 paid in spring 2024 for those eligible.
However, the Government has also highlighted that your payments may come at a later date after the deadline for a variety of reasons. This could be because you were awarded a qualifying benefit at a later date, or you changed the account your benefit or Tax Credits are paid into - in this situation, the payment will still be made automatically.
If you have not received your payment after May 17, you will need to contact the Government department which usually issues your benefit payments to see if a mistake has been made or if there has simply been a delay. Remember that the cash will be paid to you automatically - any emails, texts or phone calls asking for your personal details in order to receive the payment is a scam, DWP has warned.
You are eligible for the first £301 sum if you were entitled to a payment (or later found to be entitled to a payment) of Universal Credit, income-based JSA, ESA, Income Support, Pension Credit or Tax Credit from 26 January 2023 to 25 February 2023. Visit the Government's guidance on cost of living payments on the gov.uk website for more information.
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